Spice mixes – Mieszanki przypraw 

The spice can be antibacterial, diuretic and choleretic. Adding some spices may stimulate the production of gastric juice, and have a sedative or expectorant effect. They can also be irritating to the body (by widening blood vessels). Allspice also contains many vitamins and minerals, such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron. Basil, mint and crushed red pepper are rich in these ingredients.

Spices have another special meaning – they can be used as a substitute for salt.   Excess dietary salt – more than 5g per day (ie the level of a teaspoon) can lead to many serious health consequences, including but not limited to: high blood pressure, stroke, stomach cancer and possibly esophageal cancer. It may also contribute to osteoporosis and kidney stones. 

Instead of salt, use fresh or dried herbs, such as rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, Provencal herbs, and tarragon , which have many health-promoting properties. It is a valuable source of biologically active substances, such as, for example, flavonoids, essential oils, mucilage, alkaloids and glycosides. 

The parts of plants from which spices are made are:

• the roots
• the roots
• Shoots
• tree leaves
• flowers
• fruit
• seeds
• donut
• Objectives

The basic functions of spices are: 

• enrich the flavor and aroma of your bouquet of dishes,
• production of a new flavor bouquet from low-tasting dishes,
• give the dishes the desired color and appearance,
• Hide unwanted tastes and smells of food
• Inhibition of unfavorable microbiological changes and prevention of oxidation processes of nutrients that occur, for example, as a result of heat treatment of dishes.

Examples of spices and curiosities:

• Pepper – a universal seasoning for meat, fish and vegetable dishes. Piperine and Chavicin are responsible for the sharp taste of pepper. Piperine has antibacterial and anticarcinogenic properties, and thanks to the presence of phenolic compounds, it increases the shelf life of dishes.
• Garlic – contains odorless sulfur compounds – alliin. During grinding, alliin disintegrates into allicin which is responsible for garlic’s characteristic smell and bactericidal effect. Garlic below 8 ° C loses its properties, so it should not be stored in the refrigerator.
• Marjoram – a spice associated with fatty dishes and difficult to digest. It is often added to meat dishes (pats, stews, lard) and dishes containing legume seeds. It contains 2-3% of essential oils, thanks to which it has a bactericidal effect. It also contains a diastolic, diuretic and stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, which is why it is added to “heavy” dishes.
• Basil – fresh and dried leaves are used. It is widely used in the kitchen. It can be found in salads and pickles as an addition to sandwiches, butter, fish dishes, soups, sauces and tinctures. It activates the secretion of gastric juice, facilitates digestion, stimulates appetite, prevents flatulence.
• Turmeric – its main function is to give dishes a yellow color. It is added to dry dishes (poultry, seafood, fish), spreads, sauces, pasta, as well as cakes, biscuits, ice cream, desserts and drinks. The rhizome of turmeric contains 4 – 14% of essential oils. It owes its color and healing properties to curcumin. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, choleretic and anti-carcinogenic effects. 

We divided the spices available in stores into 3 groups :

1. The Healthiest Choice – These are the best spices available in stores. Both the composition of these products and their nutritional value make it worth choosing this spice for your dishes.
2. Good choice – when spices from the first group are not available in the store, you can go ahead and choose products from this group. This spice is also a good choice, although it shouldn’t accompany your meals too often. 
3. It is advisable not to use products – they are high in salt, sugar and unnecessary additives, such as flavor enhancers and caramel. This spice should not be added to your dishes.

We assigned individual products to the above groups, but their order within a given group is random. All the spices within the first group have the same composition and will be a good choice. Your diet should be to your taste, so try to choose the spices that suit you every day. Also remember that spices from the last group should be a rare addition to your dishes, because they contain many unnecessary additives, salt and sugar.

Legend – the most common additional ingredients in seasoning, which go beyond the standard composition of this type of product and food additive, along with information on the purpose of their addition.

1. salt . It acts as a preservative, facilitates mixing of ingredients, gives a salty taste to dishes.
2. glucose sugar. It imparts a sweet taste to the prepared dish, makes the appearance more attractive during heat treatment, and is used as a preservative.
3. Citric acid . It acts as a preservative and flavoring agent.
4. Monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, disodium 5-ribonucleotides. The compounds used to improve the taste of ready meals are a source of umami flavor, they reduce the addition of salt in dishes.
5. vinegar. Acts as a preservative for spices.
6. Yeast extract . One of its most important functions is to enhance flavor and aroma. Due to the content of glutamic acid, it is a source of umami (“gravy”, “meat”) flavor. 
7. oils. These are the fatty “carrier” flavor additives.
8. Flour / wheat starch / corn grits. They play a stabilizing role in spices.
9. Ammonia caramel, riboflavin (pigments). They are used to give spices the right color that consumers desire.
10. Soy protein hydrolysate. It is used to protect spices from losing their characteristic flavor (eg as a result of low temperature or dehydration).

The healthiest choice

Spices we recommend

In this collection you will find spices with the best ingredients. Herbs make up the bulk of these mixtures, while salt and sugar are present in smaller amounts.

Qamis, sun-dried tomatoes with garlic and basil (Lidl, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: dried tomato flakes – 62%, garlic – 24%, basil – 5%, salt, oregano

Nutritional values: 310 calories, fat: 0.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.3g, carbohydrates: 54g, including sugars: 47g, protein: 14g, salt: 3.6g
Comments: No additives. Salt in the penultimate place in the store.

Camis, peugeot seasoning and cabbage (Lidl, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: white mustard, coriander, cumin – 7%, sweet pepper – 6.5%, garlic – 6%, spices, juniper), salt, sugar, rosemary, dried boletus.

Nutritional values: 234 calories, fat: 9.3g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.8g, carbohydrates: 22g, including sugars: 13g, protein: 8.9g, salt: 38.8g
Comments: no additives. Salt and sugar are chopsticks in the composition.

Camis, herbal pepper (Lidel, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: white mustard – 29.5%, coriander, paprika, cumin – 14.5%, marjoram – 14%, hot pepper – 3%, bay leaf

Nutritional values: –
Comment: The so-called clean label. No additives, salt or sugar.

Primat, Herbes de Provence (Lidel, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: thyme, basil, savory, marjoram, rosemary, thyme, bay leaf

Nutritional values: –
Comment: The so-called clean label. Lack of salt and sugar in the composition.

Good Choice

You can choose from spices

Spices in this group are distinguished by a higher content of salt and sugar in the composition, and there are also other additives. 

Camis, minced meat spices (Lidel, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: salt, garlic, carrots, onions – 9%, sweet pepper, coriander, white mustard, black pepper – 4%, marjoram, hot pepper, fenugreek, thyme, allspice, parsley

Nutritional values: 221 calories, fat: 5.1g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.6g, carbohydrates: 25g, including sugars: 9.8g, protein: 11g, salt: 28g
Comments: salt is first in the lineup.

Camis, Gyros Spice (Lidl, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: salt, granulated garlic – 11%, coriander – 10.6%, white mustard, sweet pepper, sugar, fenugreek, hot pepper, rosemary – 3.6%, oregano, thyme, black pepper

Nutritional values: 228 calories, fat: 8g, including saturated fatty acids: 1g, carbohydrates: 21g, including sugars: 11g, protein: 9.8g, salt: 36.2g Comments: salt is number one In the warehouse.

Camis, seasoning for potato dishes (Lidel, Pedronka, Carrefour)

Ingredients: salt, garlic – 15.5%, salty – 8.3%, coriander, onion, sweet pepper, marjoram, dill – 3.4%, hot pepper, black pepper 

Nutritional values: 182 calories, fat: 3.6g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.5g, carbohydrates: 20g, including sugars: 15g, protein: 9.3g, salt: 50.5g
Comments: salt primarily in installation.

Qamis, golden chicken spices (Lidl, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: salt, sweet pepper – 14%, white mustard, garlic – 5.8%, coriander, turmeric, fenugreek – 2.4%, hot pepper – 2%, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, cloves, nutmeg 

Nutritional values: 153 calories, fat: 5.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.6g, carbohydrates: 10g, including sugars: 5.4g, protein: 7.9g, salt: 62g
Comments: salt primarily in installation.

Liddell Curry Kitchen (Liddell)

Ingredients: salt, turmeric, garlic, white mustard, cinnamon, ginger, fenugreek, sweet pepper, coriander seeds, cumin, cardamom, cloves, hot pepper, anise, black pepper, nutmeg

Nutritional values: 210 calories, fat: 5.1g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.6g, carbohydrates: 21g, including sugars: 2.4g, protein: 8.9g, salt: 29.5g Comment: primarily salt in installation.

Camis, pork grill (Lidl, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: salt, garlic 22%, red pepper 14%, coriander, rosemary, black pepper, citric acid, parsley, bay leaf

Nutritional values: 237 calories, fat: 4.9g, including saturated fatty acids: 1g, carbohydrates: 25g, including sugars: 10g, protein: 9.1g, salt: 32.3g
Comments: salt primarily In the composition, the addition of citric acid is not necessary in this spice.

Camis, goulash seasoning (Lidel, Pedronka, Carrefour)

Ingredients: Salt, 20% garlic, sweet pepper, white mustard, marjoram, cumin, 3.1% hot pepper, savory, 2.4% drained, onion, thyme.

Nutritional values: 229 calories, fat: 7.2g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.8g, carbohydrates: 20g, including sugars: 19g, protein: 12g, salt: 43g
.

Lidl’s Kitchen Potato Seasoning (Lidl)

Ingredients: salt, onion, sweet pepper, coriander seeds, cumin, sugar, marjoram, dill leaves, savory, fennel seeds, hot pepper, black pepper

Nutritional values: 177 calories, fat: 4.8g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.6g, carbohydrates: 19g, including sugars: 7.9g, protein: 7g, salt: 44g
Comments : salt primarily In the composition, add sugar.

Lidl’s Kitchen Seasoning for Chicken (Lidl)

Ingredients: salt, 16% sweet pepper, 6% garlic, sugar, 3% marjoram, 3% coriander seeds, turmeric, ginger, hot pepper, cumin, white mustard, cumin, cloves

Nutritional values: 160 calories, fat: 3.4g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.6g, carbohydrates: 22g, including sugars: 11g, protein: 5.2g, salt: 50.12g
Comments : primarily salt in installation.

Products are recommended against

Spices that we do not recommend

Condiments in this category contain most food additives, such as dyes, flavor enhancers, and stabilizers.

Nestle Maggi, liquid spices (Lidel, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: Water, Salt, Flavor Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium 5-ribonucleotides), Vinegar, Lavage Extract, Glucose, Yeast Extract, Flavor

Nutritional values: 20 calories, fat: 0g, including saturated fatty acids: 0g, carbohydrates: 2.2g, including sugars: 0.9g, protein: 2.8g, salt: 22.8g Comments: salt is second in the composition. High content of additives.

Camis, tripe condiment (Lidl, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: salt, dried vegetables (carrots, garlic, parsnips, onions, celery leaves) – 13%, sweet pepper – 9%, white mustard, ginger – 6%, sugar, nutmeg, hot pepper, hydrolyzed soy protein, marjoram , black pepper 

Nutritional values: 193 calories, fat: 6.1g, including saturated fatty acids: 1.9g, carbohydrates: 18g, including sugars: 11g, protein: 6.8g, salt: 46.9g Comments: salt primarily in installation.

Podrauka, original vegeta (Lidl, Pedroca, Carrefour)

Ingredients:  salt, dehydrated vegetables – 15.5% (carrots, carrots, potatoes, onions, celery, parsley), flavor enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate), sugar, spices, corn starch, color (riboflavin)

Nutritional values: 164 calories, fat: <0.5g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.2g, carbohydrates: 32g, including sugars: 22g, protein: 8.5g, salt: 56.9g Comment: salt primarily The first in the installation. High content of additives.

Primate, whiskey-flavored marinade (Lidel, Pedronca, Carrefour)

Ingredients: salt, white mustard, garlic 12%, sweet pepper 7%, onion, burnt sugar, sugar, marjoram, black pepper 3.5%, fenugreek, flavor, citric acid, bay leaf, juniper fruit, sweet pepper, rosemary, oil canola

Nutritional values: 258 calories, fat: 7.4g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.9g, carbohydrates: 31g, including sugars: 16g, protein: 9.5g, salt: 31.1g Comments: salt primarily In the composition, sugar, burnt sugar and rapeseed oil are added.

Knorr, meat spices (Lidl, Pedronica, Carrefour)

Ingredients: Flavor Enhancer: Monosodium Glutamate, Salt, Wheat Flour, Pepper 8.6%, Onion 2.5%, Sugar, Tomato Paste, 2%, Garlic, Fat Palm, Parsley, Color: Ammonia Caramel, Rosemary, Flavors, Pepper, Thyme , thyme and marjoram

Nutritional values: 241 calories, fat: 2.7g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.8g, carbohydrates: 30g, including sugars: 7.8g, protein: 18g, salt: 35.6g Comments: High in content added. Flavor enhancers and salt take first place in the composition.

Lidl’s Kitchen, A Little Bit of Flavor (Lidl)

Ingredients: 59% salt, sugar, 15.1% dehydrated vegetables (carrots, onions (contains sulfur dioxide), parsnips, garlic (contains sulfur dioxide), red pepper, celery roots, parsley, tomatoes), corn grits, Glucose, Wheat Starch, Flavors, 0.18% Spices, Olive Oil, Yeast Extract, Color: Riboflavin

Nutritional values: 145 calories, fat: <0.5g, including saturated fatty acids: <0.1g, carbohydrates: 31g, including sugars: 23g, protein: 1.8g, salt: 59g Comments: salt, sugar Primarily in the configuration. High content of additives.

Colino, oregano (ladybug)

Ingredients: salt, dehydrated vegetables – 15.5% (parsnip, potatoes, carrots, onions, parsley, celery), sugar, flavor enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate), spices, corn starch, color (riboflavin)

Nutritional values: 112 calories, fat: <0.5g, including saturated fatty acids: 0.2g, carbohydrates: 22g, including sugars: 11g, protein: 5g, salt: 69.4g
Comments: salt primarily The first in the installation. High content of additives.